US11388936B2 - Sensor garment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a sensor garment including a harness. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textile portion, a device-retention element coupled to the textile portion, and a stretchable harness coupled to the textile portion. The harness includes a conductive element disposed between layers of film. The conductive element includes a first termination point at the device retention element, configured to connect to a monitor device. The conductive element includes a second termination point configured to connect to a sensor or transceiver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/444,613, filed Jul. 28, 2014, titled “Sensor Garment,” the disclosure of which in incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/444,613 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,520, filed Mar. 31, 2011, titled “Sensor Garment,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a harness and a garment, and in particular to a garment for use with sensors.

Background Art

Exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and individual well-being. A common way for individuals to exercise is to participate in athletic activities, such as, for example, sports and training programs. A session of athletic activity may include, for example, a training session or a competitive session such as, for example, a soccer match or basketball game. When participating in athletic activities in a competitive or collaborative environment, one's performance may be dependent on the performance of other individuals. For example, in a team sport context, the performance of various athletic movements and endeavors may be influenced by the athletic movements and endeavors of teammates or adversaries. Often, a trainer (e.g., a coach) is monitoring such athletic activity.

To effectively monitor an individual or group of individuals participating in the athletic activity, the trainer, or other individual, typically gathers information about the participants in the athletic activity by viewing the athletic activity from, for example, the sidelines of a sports field. Thus, the information used to make decisions that influence the athletic activity is typically limited by what is observed by the trainer from the sidelines. A trainer may have assistants to help with this observation, or multiple trainers may work together, however there remains difficulty in monitoring a plurality of individuals so as to effectively track and manage performance of individuals during an athletic activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a harness and a sensor garment including a harness. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textile portion, a device-retention element coupled to the textile portion, and a stretchable harness coupled to the textile portion, the stretchable harness comprising an electrically conductive element having a first termination point at the device retention element and a second termination point.

In another exemplary embodiment, the harness includes a stretchable first layer, a stretchable second layer coupled to the first layer, and a stretchable electrically conductive element disposed between the first layer and the second layer having a first termination point, configured to connect to a monitor device, and a second termination point configured to connect to a first sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of a wearer of the garment.

In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textile portion, a device retention element coupled to a first area of the textile portion configured to be proximate to the back of a wearer of the garment, a first sensor coupled to a second area of the textile portion configured to be proximate to a right side of the torso of the wearer, a second sensor coupled to a third area of the textile portion configured to be proximate to a left side of the torso of the wearer, and a harness bonded to the textile portion. The harness includes a first harness portion extending between the first area and the second area, and configured to couple to the first sensor, and a second harness portion extending between the first harness portion and the third area, and configured to couple to the second sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of a jersey according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective rear view of the jersey ofFIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 11 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of a support element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a harness manufacturing technique according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a harness manufacturing technique according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the harness manufacturing technique ofFIG. 18 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a device retention element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 24 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a perspective front view of a monitor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a perspective side view of the monitor device ofFIG. 26 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a perspective rear view of the monitor device ofFIG. 26 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 32 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of a sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 38 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 42, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a perspective front view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a perspective rear view of the garment ofFIG. 45 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, “some exemplary embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is a non-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments as described in the application.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, asensor garment10 is provided.Sensor garment10 may include atextile portion100, aharness200, and adevice retention element300. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 includes at least onesensor400.FIGS. 1-8, 11, 12, 24, 25, 29-33 and 35-46 depictsensor garments10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Sensor garment10 may be adapted to be worn by a wearer.Sensors400, which may be positioned at ends ofharness200, may sense physiological or performance characteristics of the wearer. Physiological characteristics may be indicative of conditions of the wearer's body (e.g., heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate, hydration status). Performance characteristics may be indicative of performance of the wearer's body with respect to a parameter of interest (e.g., speed, orientation, direction, acceleration, position, fatigue, impact, efficiency), and may take into account physiological characteristics. Further,sensors400 may transmit data indicative of these characteristics, viaharness200, to amonitor device500 positioned at an end ofharness200.

Monitor device500 may be any device capable of receiving data.Monitor device500 may perform a variety of operations. For example, monitordevice500 may store the received data, may process it, or may transmit it to a reception device. In some exemplary embodiments,monitor device500 and the reception device are such as the individual monitor and base station, respectively, disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,494, filed Mar. 31, 2011, entitled Group Performance Monitoring System and Method, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. In some exemplary embodiments,monitor device500 is small enough to be easily carried by the wearer, viadevice retention element300 ofsensor garment10, without causing substantial discomfort or restriction of motion of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments,monitor device500 may be a pod-like device, as shown in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 26-28, and may include a universal serial bus (USB)port510, at least onedata port520, and a display and/orcontrol530. Monitor device may further include at least one of a battery, a position module, a heart rate monitor module, a controller, a user interface, a transceiver, an antenna, an acceleration sensor module, a memory, a gyroscope module, a magnetometer module, a respiration module, a light sensor module, and a temperature sensor module.Monitor device500 may itself include sensors to correspond to these modules, or may be connected todistinct sensors400 viaharness200. The sensors and corresponding modules discussed herein are exemplary only; other sensors and modules can be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention. The battery may provide power to monitordevice500.

Data port520 may facilitate information transfer to and frommonitor device500 and may connect to a termination point ofconductive elements210 ofharness200, described below.Data port520 may include any suitable connection to connect toconductive element210. In some exemplary embodiments,data port520 includes one or more terminals configured to individually connect toconductive elements210. In some exemplary embodiments,data port520 may be a universal serial bus (USB) port. In some exemplary embodiments, the transceiver ofmonitor device500 may include data transmitting and receiving capability and may include a single component or separate components. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 26-28,monitor device500 is depicted as a pod-like device.Monitor device500 may be, however, any other suitable device, such as, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, an e-reader, a PDA (personal digital assistant), or other similar device capable receiving and transmitting data.

In use, the wearer, who may be an athlete engaged in an athletic activity, may wearsensor garment10 in order to monitor (or facilitate another's monitoring of) his performance. Physiological and performance characteristic data indicative of such performance may be received atsensors400, transmitted (via harness200) to monitordevice500 retained bydevice retention element300, and transmitted bymonitor device500 to a remote reception device.

In one embodiment,sensor garment10 may comprise a shirt (as depicted in the figures). In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 may comprise a garment, such as, for example, a vest, a compression shirt, suspenders, a band, a strap, a shoulder harness, a shirt with a compression base layer, a jersey, a tank top, a bra, a sleeve, an arm band, a head band, a hat, a tube top, shorts, briefs, pants, socks, jackets, outerwear, swimsuits, wetsuits, and other suitable garments or apparel and portions thereof. In one embodiment, one or more features ofsensor garment10 may be incorporated into footwear. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 is designed to be worn without another garment worn oversensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 is designed to be worn with another garment worn overgarment10, such as, for example,jersey20, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 9 and 10.

Textile portion100 may form the shape and fit ofsensor garment10, and may be designed to fit any portion of a wearer's body. In some exemplary embodiments the wearer is a human; however, embodiments of the present invention can apply to nonhuman animate beings as well. In some exemplary embodiments,textile portion100 is designed to fit snugly to the wearer's body (i.e., designed so that an interior surface oftextile portion100 is in contact with the wearer's body throughout expected motion of the body). In order to support optimum or desired fit,textile portion100 may include elastic portions, as well as inelastic portions.

With reference toFIG. 2,textile portion100 may include adevice retention element300 configured to retain a device, such asmonitor device500, that can receive data (via harness200) and transmit data to a reception device. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape ofmonitor device500, to be capable of nestingmonitor device500 therein and holdingmonitor device500 in place so as to minimize the effect of movement of a wearer ofsensor garment10 onmonitor device500. Additional elements may be used to help minimize this effect, such as, for example,bands312 andspacer element340, discussed further herein. As shown inFIG. 2,device retention element300 may be coupled totextile layer100.FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment ofsensor garment10, includingdevice retention element300 coupled totextile layer100.Device retention element300 may be coupled totextile layer100 by, for example, being integral therewith, being adhered, stitched, welded, tied, clipped, snapped, or mounted thereto, or any combination of these and other techniques. In some exemplary embodiments, device retention element is formed integrally with textile layer100 (e.g.,textile layer100 may be stitched or knitted to form a pocket therein).

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2,device retention element300 is a pocket formed by a fabriclayer having opening320, positioned on an exterior oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is a pocket formed by a fabriclayer having opening320, positioned on an interior oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is a pocket formed by a fabric layer not havingopening320, positioned on an interior oftextile layer100. In such an embodiment,textile layer100 may include opening320 providing access to the pocket from the exterior oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is a complete pocket, attached to the exterior or interior of, or integrated within,textile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments, rather than being formed of fabric,device retention element300 is formed at least partially of other materials, for example, plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, or neoprene.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2,device retention element300 is positioned to correspond to the upper back of a wearer ofsensor garment10. Positioningdevice retention element300 to correspond to a high position on the wearer, such as the upper back, may help minimize interference and maximize range and signal strength ofmonitor device500 withindevice retention element300 whenmonitor device500 sends or receives data. Additionally, positioningdevice retention element300 to correspond to the upper back minimizes interference with athlete movements by device retention element300 (and monitordevice500 retained thereby). In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is positioned to correspond to other than the upper back of a wearer.Device retention element300 can be positioned anywhere ontextile layer100. For example,device retention element300 may be positioned to correspond to the lower back, chest, side, shoulder, arm, leg, posterior, foot, neck, or head of a wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is other than a pocket. For example, device retention element may include, for example, a mount, a snap, a tie, a button, a lattice, or a clip.Device retention element300 may retainmonitor device500 in a variety of ways, for example, monitordevice500 may be disposed within, coupled to, hanging from, or mounted indevice retention element300.Device retention element300 may be positioned on the exterior oftextile layer100, as shown inFIG. 2. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 is positioned other than on the exterior oftextile layer100. For example,device retention element300 may be positioned on an interior oftextile layer100, or integrated withintextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,textile layer100 includes multiple layers. In such an embodiment,device retention element300 may be positioned between layers oftextile layer100, on a top surface of an outer layer or an inner layer, or on a bottom surface of an outer layer or an inner layer.FIGS. 13, 15, and 20-23 depict further exemplary embodiments ofdevice retention element300 as discussed below.

As shown inFIG. 2, for example,device retention element300 may include anopening320 for insertion and removal ofmonitoring device500. In some embodiments opening320 is sealable, for example, by a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, ties, snaps, buttons, or other suitable closing elements. Device retention element may includeholes330, which may provide windows to view portions ofmonitor device500 while it is retained bydevice retention element300. For example, ifmonitor device500 includes a display and/or control530 (e.g., an LCD (liquid crystal display) display, LED (light emitting diode) display, individual LEDs, e-ink, a switch, or a button), holes330 may provide access to display and/orcontrol530.

Device retention element300 may include asupport element310, as in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2, which may provide support todevice retention element300 by, for example, increasing resistance to movement, increasing stability, and increasing wear-resistance.Support element310 may also help maintain the position ofmonitor device500 within or in relation todevice retention element300.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2,support element310 is a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) layer patterned on the exterior surface ofdevice retention element300. Such asupport element310 may be laminated on or withindevice retention element300. In some exemplary embodiments,support element310 may be printed ontodevice retention element300, or may be an elastic (e.g., rubber) band integrated intodevice retention300. InFIG. 2,support element310 particularly supports the area aroundopening320. This may help to minimize wear aroundopening320 that may result from repeated insertion and removal ofmonitor device500.Support element310 may include, as in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2,vertical bands312 that particularly support vertical segments ofdevice retention element300. This may help to minimize movement ofmonitor device500 in the vertical direction, which may be desirable during athletic activity of a wearer, when substantial vertical forces, due to, for example, running, are incident onmonitor device500.Support element310 may further include anopening support element314 disposed about opening320, which may provide support and/or facilitate access to the area.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2,support element310 only partially covers an exterior surface ofdevice retention element300. In some exemplary embodiments,support element310 completely covers the exterior and/or interior surface ofdevice retention element300.

Device retention element300 can be provided according to a variety of embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 13,device retention element300 may comprise a pocket includingspacer element340, which will be discussed in more detail below. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 15,device retention element300 may comprise a pocket including opening320 as an elongated opening for receivingmonitor device500 therethrough, and one ormore holes330 configured to correspond to features ofmonitor device500, for example, display and/orcontrol530, shown inFIG. 26, for example. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 20,device retention element300 may comprise a pocket including opening320 sized and arranged to display features of monitor device. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 20device retention element300 includes noholes330. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 21,device retention element300 may compriseelastic bands350 configured to holdmonitor device500 in place. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 21, spaces betweenelastic bands350 may act asholes330. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 22,device retention element300 may comprise ties or laces360. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 22,monitor device500 can be inserted via opening320 betweenlaces360, and laces can be tightened or loosened in order to achieve a desired fit ofmonitor device500 withindevice retention element300. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 23,device retention element300 may comprise a web covering370, which provides access throughopening320 in the side ofdevice retention element300.

Sensor garment10 may be worn by an athlete during a session of athletic activity. During such activity, monitordevice500 retained bydevice retention element300 may be subject to a wide variety of incident forces, due to the motion of the athlete. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element300 includes aspacer element340, which can provide padding betweenmonitor device500 and the wearer, can help dampen and control movement ofmonitor device500, can reduce shock and/or shear forces onmonitor device500, and can minimize injury to the wearer in the event of impact at or proximate to monitordevice500. As shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, in some exemplary embodiments, wheredevice retention element300 is a pocket,spacer element340 may be positioned inside or on the pocket, for example, configured to be positioned between an interior area of the pocket a wearer ofsensor garment10.Spacer element340 may be coupled totextile layer100 on at least one surface.Spacer element340 may be a three-dimensional mesh or foam that dampens shear forces, thereby minimizing incident forces onmonitor device500, and minimizing discomfort to the wearer ofgarment10.

In some exemplary embodiments,monitor device500 is configured to receive data fromsensors400, which may be included inmonitor device500, or may be separate and distinct from monitor device500 (e.g., coupled totextile layer100 or the wearer of sensor garment10). In some exemplary embodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS.3 and4, for example,sensor garment10 may include adevice retention element300 located at an upper back of a wearer ofsensor garment10, configured to retainmonitor device500, and may include asensor400 configured to be positioned proximate a side of a torso of the wearer.Sensor garment10 may include any suitable number or type ofsensors400, as desired or required. For example,sensor garment10 may include performance, physiological, orother sensors400 configured to detect heart rate (e.g., an ECG (electrocardiography) signal), respiration rate, body temperature, location, acceleration, distance, orientation, speed, direction, heading, oxygen levels, or hydration of a wearer.Such sensors400 may include, for example, an electrode, a heart rate monitor (e.g., ECG sensor), a magnetometer, a respiratory sensor, a light sensor (e.g., to provide information about or interact with the environment of the wearer), a pressure sensor (e.g., to measure an impact or hit), a thermocouple, a GPS (global positioning system) sensor, an echolocation sensor, an RFID (radio-frequency identification) sensor, a beacon sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, a biomechanic sensor, any other suitable sensor, or any combination thereof.

A biomechanic sensor may, for example, include astretch sensor405 with a stretchable conductive element415 (e.g., separate from or included insensor garment10 at an area configured to correspond to a portion of the body of a wearer that can have a large reflex range, for example, the elbow, knee, shoulder, or foot), as depicted in, for example,FIG. 47. Stretchableconductive element415 may be, for example, stretchable wire (e.g., wire coiled around an elastic core), non-stretchable wire included in a stretch panel in, for example, a zigzag, sinusoidal, or loop pattern, or a conductive polymer or conductive fabric, as described further herein. Deformation of stretchableconductive element415 may be sensed based on variations in the resistance of stretchableconductive element415, and used to determine motion of the body of the wearer (e.g., occurrence, magnitude, speed, or direction of motion). In some exemplary embodiments, such variations in resistance are sensed at a resistance sensor/filter425 located adjacent and directly attached to stretchableconductive element415, and are communicated to monitordevice500 viaharness200.

Further examples ofexemplary sensors400 and their potential uses can be found in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,494, filed Mar. 31, 2011, entitled “Group Performance Monitoring System and Method,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. In some exemplary embodiments,sensors400 may form a part ofsensor garment10, and may be integrated within or attached totextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,sensors400 may be separate from and adapted to be coupled tosensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor400 may be a receiver, which can act as anantenna450 to receive a signal from a remote sensor or transmitter. For example, in such an embodiment, the receiver may be configured to receive a signal from a core temperature sensor swallowed by a wearer, and may be positioned to correspond to the center of the back of the wearer, off of the spine, as shown, for example, inFIG. 43. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor400 may include or be coupled to a speaker and/ormicrophone460, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 38. Speaker and/ormicrophone460 may transmit or receive audio information to or from a remote device and monitordevice500. Speaker and/ormicrophone460 may enable communication between a wearer ofsensor garment10 and a person remote from the wearer.

Antenna450 may be separate from or integrated withinmonitor device500. In embodiments whereantenna450 is separate frommonitor device500,antenna450 may be coupled totextile layer100.Antenna450 may be configured to facilitate communication betweenmonitor device200 and a remote sensor or transmitter, by, for example, wirelessly sending and receiving signals between these elements.Antenna450 may be formed of, for example, coiled or wrapped conductive wires, conductive fabric, conductive adhesive, conductive thread, conductive polymer, or silver ink printed on plastic. In some exemplary embodiments,antenna450 is coupled to textile layer100 (or any portion of sensor garment10) by a retention element, which may be, for example, a retention element similardevice retention element300, described herein. In some exemplary embodiments,antenna450 is coupled to textile layer100 (or any portion of sensor garment10) by being sewn thereto, or laminated, glued, ultrasonically bonded, or printed thereon. In some exemplary embodiments, padding is included proximate toantenna450, which may protectantenna450 and reduce discomfort of a wearer ofsensor garment10. The padding may be any suitable padding, such as, for example, the material of spacer element340 (described herein), or a polymer (e.g., soft silicone).

Depending on the type ofsensor400,sensor400 may be positioned withinsensor garment10 to be configured to be in contact with the skin of a wearer ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments, at least a portion ofsensor400 is uncoupled from the motion of the remaining portion ofsensor garment10 relative to the body of the wearer. As a wearer's body moves during activity, this in turn causes all or a portion of thesensor garment10 to move. In order to minimize undesirable motion of a portion ofsensor400 relative to the body of the wearer, the portion ofsensor400 may be fixed to the body of the wearer, and coupled to harness200 using a technique that allows relative motion betweenharness200 and the portion ofsensor400, as described below. Because at least a portion ofsensor400 is fixed to the body of the wearer, as opposed totextile layer100, the portion ofsensor400 may not be subjected to the motion of the garment. This can help maintain reliable and consistent skin contact and positioning relative to the wearer. For example, in some exemplary embodiments,sensors400 are coupled to the remaining portion of sensor garment10 (e.g., harness200) by dangling therefrom. Adangling sensor400 may have some slack in its connection to harness200 (e.g., an extended wire connection), thereby allowing for relative motion betweensensor400 andharness200. Adangling sensor400 may connect to the skin of a wearer via, for example, suction, tape, or an adhesive substance. In this manner, in some embodiments a portion ofsensor400 may be fixed relative to the motion of sensor garment10 (and move relative to the body of the wearer), and a portion ofsensor400 may move relative to the sensor garment10 (and be substantially fixed relative to the body of the wearer).

In some exemplary embodiments,sensors400 are incorporated into aband420, as depicted, for example, inFIGS. 24, 25, 40, and 41, which may be elastic and may be configured to surround the chest or other anatomical feature of a wearer. In the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 24, 25, 40, and 41,sensor garment10 is shown inside-out, for ease of depiction. In some exemplary embodiments, such aband420 may be attached to textile layer100 (e.g.,sensors400 may be attached to an inner support layer (e.g., band420) ofsensor garment10, which may be integrated withtextile layer100, as depicted, for example, inFIG. 40, or which may be attached totextile layer100 at discrete points, as depicted, for example, inFIG. 41). In some exemplary embodiments, such aband420 may be independent from textile layer100 (e.g.,sensors400 may be integrated into a bra-like garment that can be worn underneathtextile layer100, and the sensors thereof may be configured to couple to harness400).

Depending on a variety of factors, including type of sensor, type of garment, aesthetics, and manufacturing considerations,sensors400 may be positioned at a variety of locations relative todevice retention element300, and may be positioned at any suitable location on or in textile layer100 (e.g., on areas of textile layer configured to correspond to the torso, back, sides, arms, or neck of the wearer), or separate therefrom. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 includesharness200 to connectsensors400 todevice retention element300 and to monitordevice500, whenmonitor device500 is retained bydevice retention element300.

Harness200 may include, as shown inFIG. 1, for example, electricallyconductive elements210, capable of communicating data electronically, and aharness guide portion220.Conductive elements210 may include one or a plurality of termination points, as shown in, for example,FIGS. 3 and 4. For example,conductive elements210 may include afirst termination point212, asecond termination point214, and athird termination point216. The configuration of these termination points can be varied, as will be described below.Harness guide portion220 may include a plurality of layers, as shown in, for example,FIG. 17. For example, harness guide portion may include afirst layer222, asecond layer224, and afabric layer226, which will be discussed below. In some exemplary embodiments,conductive elements210 are disposed between layers ofharness guide portion220.

In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be disposed integrally with or on a surface oftextile layer100 ofgarment10. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1,sensor garment10 is shown inside-out, for ease of depiction. Thus, in normal use, harness200 of the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1 would be positioned on an interior surface oftextile layer100 ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be positioned on or adjacent an interior surface oftextile layer100, positioned on or adjacent an exterior surface oftextile layer100, or integrated withintextile layer100. Harness200 may couple totextile layer100 by any suitable technique, including, for example, adhesive, stitching, welding, or lamination. Throughout the figures,sensor garment10 can be interpreted as being depicted inside-out or inside-in.

Conductive elements210 may be configured to connect tosensors400, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 29, and to monitordevice500, and may be configured to transmit data fromsensors400 to monitordevice500. To accomplish this,conductive elements210 may include termination points corresponding tosensors400 and monitordevice500. As shown in, for example,FIGS. 3, 4, and 34,conductive elements210 may include afirst termination point212, configured to connect to monitor device500 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 12), asecond termination point214 to connect to asensor400, and athird termination point216 to connect to anothersensor400. Each termination point may include a single or multiple terminal connections, depending on the configuration ofconductive elements210 at the termination point. In the case where a termination point has multiple terminal connections, these connections may be labeled to facilitate proper connection with additional components. For example, a termination point configured to connect to monitordevice500 may include two terminal connections, labeled “Left” and “Right”, indicating that they correspond to sensors positioned in the left and right ofsensor garment10, respectively.Conductive elements210 ofharness200 may include any suitable number and arrangement of termination points to suit an arrangement ofsensors400 and monitordevice500.

Guide portion220 ofharness200 may guideconductive elements210 between termination points, as depicted in the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 1, 3, and 4, for example. In some exemplary embodiments,guide portion220 is formed of afirst layer222 and asecond layer224, wherein thefirst layer222 andsecond layer224 are configured to be coupled together withconductive elements210 therebetween, as depicted in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 17, for example. In some exemplary embodiments, one or both offirst layer222 andsecond layer224 is an adhesive layer. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 includes afabric layer226 coupled to guideportion220.Fabric layer226 may be elastic and may be positioned to correspond to an interior ofsensor garment10, thereby reducing discomfort of a wearer due toharness200.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 3 and 4,harness200 includes afirst harness portion230, which is fixed directly totextile layer100, and asecond harness portion240, which is at least partially free from fixation totextile layer100.Second harness portion240 may be referred to as a “bridge”. In some exemplary embodiments the motion ofsecond harness portion240 relative totextile layer100 may be constrained by aloop242 attached totextile layer100 and looping aroundsecond harness portion240.Second harness portion240 may be particularly useful to enable communication betweensensors400 and monitordevice500 across areas ofsensor garment10 that are not conducive to direct fixation ofharness200. For example, in some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be best suited for direct fixation totextile layer100 in areas wheretextile layer100 is elastic. In order to maintain connection between elements ofsensor garment10 that are positioned on different sides of an inflexible portion ofsensor garment10harness200 may include, for example,second harness portion240 to bridge the inflexible portion ofsensor garment10, thereby connecting the elements ofsensor garment10 without requiring direct fixation to inflexible areas ofsensor garment10.Textile layer100 ofsensor garment10 may include panels of flexible and inflexible material in order to achieve a desired fit or aesthetic, or to provide for undistorted graphics, such as, for example, team or sponsor logos or player numbers, in the case of a team jersey.

The routing ofharness200 may be configured to suit a variety of requirements or desires. For example, in some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be routed to only cover areas ofsensor garment10 that do not or will not include graphics or print, so as not to interfere with the aesthetics or production of such graphics or print.

In some exemplary embodiments,second harness portion240 may “bridge” over such graphics or print. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be routed so as not to cross or interfere with seams ofsensor garment10, in order to, for example, simplify manufacturing and to maintain durability ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be incorporated with or otherwise extend along seams ofsensor garment10.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 3, 4, 11, and12,harness200 extends fromfirst termination point212, configured to be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, down the back and around one side ofsensor garment10 tosecond termination point214, configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, across the front ofsensor garment10 tothird termination point216, configured to be positioned at the other side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 5-8,harness200 extends fromfirst termination point212, configured to be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, along the back shoulder, and around one side ofsensor garment10 tosecond termination point214, configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, across the front ofsensor garment10 tothird termination point216, configured to be positioned at the other side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 1, 24, and 25harness200 extends fromfirst termination point212, configured to be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, over a shoulder area ofsensor garment10 to the front ofsensor garment10, and splits into prongs, leading to each oftermination points214 and216, configured to be positioned at the sides of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 45 and 46,harness200 extends fromfirst termination point212, configured to be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, down the back, where it splits into two portions that extend around opposing sides ofsensor garment10, one portion extending tosecond termination point214, configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, and the other portion extending to athird termination point216, configured to be positioned at the opposite side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIGS. 30 and 31,harness200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first termination points212, located at left and right sides ofdevice retention element300.Device retention element300 may be positioned at an upper back area ofsensor garment10. One portion ofharness200 may extend along the back left shoulder, under the left arm, tosecond termination point214, and the other portion may extend along the back right shoulder, under the right arm, tothird termination point216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 47,harness200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first termination points212, located at left and right sides ofdevice retention element300.Device retention element300 may be positioned at an upper back area ofsensor garment10. One portion ofharness200 may extend along the back left shoulder, along the left arm, tosecond termination point214 located at a left elbow area ofsensor garment10, and the other portion may extend along the back right shoulder, along the right arm, tothird termination point216 located at a right elbow area ofsensor garment10.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 35,harness200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first termination points212, located at left and right sides ofdevice retention element300.Device retention element300 may be positioned at a central front area ofsensor garment10, betweensensors400. One portion ofharness200 may extend left tosecond termination point214, and the other portion may extend right tothird termination point216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 36,harness200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first termination points212, located at left and right sides ofdevice retention element300.Device retention element300 may be positioned at a central back area ofsensor garment10, betweensensors400. One portion ofharness200 may extend right tosecond termination point214, and the other portion may extend left tothird termination point216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 37,harness200 extends fromfirst termination point212, located atdevice retention element300. Device retention element may be positioned at a side area ofsensor garment10. Harness200 may extend tosecond termination point214 at one side of the front ofsensor garment10, and fromsecond termination point214 across the front ofsensor garment10 tothird termination point216 at the other side of the front ofsensor garment10.

The shape and routing ofharness200 may be varied to suit a wide variety of particular requirements or desires, including various positions ofmonitor device500 orsensors400. For example, rather than being routed tosensors400 at a wearer's front or sides, harness200 may be routed to a chest or back area of the wearer, to correspond tosensors400 positioned at the chest or back of the wearer (e.g., a heart rate sensor configured to be positioned at the middle of the chest of a wearer). In some exemplary embodiments, for example, those depicted inFIGS. 1, 5, and 30,sensors400 are positioned to correspond to side areas of a wearer located at the front of the wearer. In some exemplary embodiments, for example, those depicted inFIGS. 32 and 33,sensors400 are positioned at extreme side areas ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments, for example, that depicted inFIG. 36,sensors400 are positioned at side areas at a rear ofsensor garment10.

Sensors400 may have various shapes and sizes, to suit a variety of requirements or desires. In some exemplary embodiments, operation of some or allsensors400 may benefit from contact with the skin of a wearer. In such an exemplary embodiment, asensor400 may be shaped and sized to correspond to the anatomical shape and size of a particular area of a wearer's skin that it is intended to be in contact with. In some exemplary embodiments, to optimize skin contact,sensors400 may be brush-like sensors (e.g., a sensor having a plurality of contact elements extending therefrom, to provide a plurality of potential contact points for sensor400), pillowed (e.g., a sensor supported by a backing material between the sensor andtextile layer100, where the backing material causes the sensor to tend to extend out from the textile layer against the wearer's skin, and may be, for example, the material ofspacer element340 or the lofty polyester fiberfill commonly used in sleeping pillows,), or may include sticky areas (e.g., adhesive around a periphery of sensor400). In some exemplary embodiments, to optimize skin contact ofsensors400, an inner surface oftextile layer100 may include sticky areas aroundsensors400 attached thereto, or may include areas aroundsensors400 configured to naturally adhere to the skin of a wearer (e.g., silicone panels). In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment10 is configured to maintain contact betweensensors400 and the skin of a wearer through a tight fit of sensor garment10 (e.g., a compression shirt). In some exemplary embodiments, some or allsensors400 may have no need for contact with the skin of a wearer, and may be positioned so as not to contact the skin.

Harness200 may be subject to forces, during use, that cause it to deform or otherwise tend to stretch. Harness200 may be made of elastic materials, so as to be stretchable and able to elastically accommodate such forces. For example,first layer222,second layer224, andfabric layer226 may each be composed of elastic materials. Further, in some exemplary embodiments,conductive elements210 may be elastic.Harness200, according to exemplary embodiments, exhibits stretchability, durability, and stress release properties. As will be apparent to one of skill in the art, these characteristics can be adjusted and optimized for a variety of requirements or applications. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 has elasticity substantially equivalent to that oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 has elasticity greater than that oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 has elasticity less than that oftextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 has sufficient elasticity to conform to the body of a wearer, thereby promoting contact ofsensors400 with the body of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 has sufficient elasticity to withstand stretching incident to a wearer's donning and doffing ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 is configured to stretch to 20-100% of its non-stretched length without being permanently deformed in any direction. In some exemplary embodiments, different portions ofharness200 are configured to stretch to different proportions of their non-stretched lengths without being permanently deformed. For example, portions ofharness200 positioned around a neckline ofsensor garment10 may be configured to stretch 20-30% of their non-stretched lengths, while portions such as the neck of a Y-shape of aharness200, or portions ofharness200 positioned at the chest or mid-torso areas ofsensor garment10 may be configured to stretch 80-100%. In some exemplary embodiments, portions ofharness200 may be configured to stretch more in a cross-body direction than in a vertical direction, and vice versa.

In some exemplary embodiments,textile layer100 has sufficient elasticity to conform to the body of a wearer, thereby promoting contact ofsensors400 with the body of the wearer. In some exemplary embodiments,textile layer100 includes portions with greater elasticity than other portions oftextile layer100, where the portions with greater elasticity may correspond to areas whereharness200 is coupled totextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments, stretch and elasticity characteristics of sensor garment10 (in particularconductive elements210, adhesivefirst layer222,second layer224,fabric layer226, and/or textile layer100) are configured to facilitate durability, freedom of movement, and donning and doffing ofsensor garment10.

Conductive elements210 may include conductive wire or yarn, for example, multi-strand, individually insulated, high flexibility micro-wire (e.g., silver coated nylon or composite material with an elastic core encircled with conductive material), conductive silver yarn, or insulated conductive wire, arranged in a zigzag, loop, meander, or sinusoidal pattern, as shown in, for example,FIGS. 1, 17, and 34. To increase flexibility, the pattern may adopt a lesser magnitude or greater frequency (of, for example, peaks or loops per unit of distance) asconductive elements210 approach termination points, or anywhere else greater stretchability inharness200 may be required or desired, and may maintain a greater magnitude or frequency in other areas ofharness200, to maintain durability. In one embodiment, as shown in, for example,FIGS. 17 and 34, the sinusoidal pattern ofconductive elements210 may exhibit greater frequency and lesser magnitude near the ends ofconductive elements210, and lesser frequency and greater magnitude along an intermediate portion ofconductive elements210. Portions of greater frequency and lesser magnitude may correspond to portions ofharness200 configured to be coupled to monitordevice500 orsensors400, or in areas of harness routing that receive greatest stress in donning, doffing, or wearing. Such portions may benefit from increased stretchability and strain relief provided thereby.

Sensor garment10 may move and stretch during activity of a wearer, and the connection betweenconductive element210 andsensors400 or monitordevice500 may be stressed. Increased flexibility and elasticity in these areas may help minimize such stress. Portions of lesser frequency and greater magnitude may correspond to portions ofharness200 configured to be positioned under or over an arm of the wearer, where flexibility and maintaining connection to additional elements is less important. In one exemplary embodiment, shown inFIG. 1, the sinusoidal pattern ofconductive elements210 may transition to a straight line asconductive elements210 approachsecond termination point214 andthird termination point216. The nature of the pattern ofconductive elements210 can be varied to suit a variety of requirements or desires. Some level of flexibility throughoutharness200 may be beneficial, however, in order to reduce stress and fatigue onconductive elements210, thereby increasing the useful life ofharness200.

Conductive elements210 may be patterned between connectedfirst layer222 andsecond layer224. Harness200 may include two or moreconductive elements210 that are arranged parallel to each other or are twisted around each other in areas where they have similar routing, before they split to separate termination points. For example,FIGS. 1 and 29 depict parallelconductive elements210, andFIG. 40 depictsconductive elements210 twisted around each other. The proximity ofconductive elements210 to each other, particularly if twisted around each other, may improve the quality of signals transmitted thereby. In some exemplary embodiments layers222 and224 may be textile or plastic material having adhesive applied to one or both sides, or may be any material or materials, such as, for example, TPU films, bonded or capable of being bonded together. In some exemplary embodiments harness200 includes a single adhesive layer, for example,first layer222, adhered totextile layer100. In such an embodiment,conductive elements210 may be positioned betweenfirst layer222 andtextile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 may be screen printed ontextile layer100. For example, an insulation layer (e.g., TPU) may be screen printed onfabric layer100 to formfirst layer222, a conductive material (e.g., conductive TPU) may be screen printed on the insulation layer to formconductive elements210, and another insulation layer may be screen printed overfirst layer222 andconductive elements210 to formsecond layer224.

To produceharness200, in some exemplary embodimentsfirst layer222 is laminated together withsecond layer224, withconductive elements210 positioned therebetween. In some exemplary embodiments,fabric layer226 is laminated along withfirst layer222,second layer224, andconductive elements210. Lamination may be accomplished by applying heat and pressure, for example by using aheat press600, as shown inFIG. 17.Pins610 may be inserted into abottom plate620 ofheat press600 at various positions, and may line up with corresponding holes infirst layer222,second layer224, andfabric layer226.Pins610 may be retractable withinbottom plate620. In some exemplary embodiments,second layer224 may be positioned onbottom plate620 aligned withpins610, andconductive element210 may be laid aroundpins610, usingpins610 as a guide for patterningconductive element210 onsecond layer224.First layer222, andfabric layer226, if provided, may then be positioned onbottom plate620, similarly aligned withpins610.Second layer224,conductive element210,first layer222, andfabric layer226, if provided, may then be pressed together betweentop plate630 andbottom plate620, with heat applied via either or both oftop plate630 andbottom plate620, thereby bondingfirst layer222,conductive element210,second layer224, andfabric layer226, if provided, intoharness200. In some exemplary embodiments, either or both offirst layer222 andsecond layer224 may include adhesive to assist bonding.

In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be patterned betweenfirst layer222 andsecond layer224 via an automated process. For example,conductive element210 may be layered on a substrate, which may be one offirst layer222 andsecond layer224, and then pressed betweenfirst layer222 andsecond layer224 by rollers. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 18 and 19, for example, sheets offirst layer222 andsecond layer224 are shown feeding into a space between tworollers710, which pressfirst layer222 andsecond layer224 together to bond. In some exemplary embodiments, one or more of heat, pressure, and adhesive may be applied to assist bonding. While the layers are being fed throughrollers710, conductive element depositing heads720 may depositconductive element210 in a pattern on, for example,first layer222. Conductive element depositing heads720 may be configured to move transversely whilefirst layer222 andsecond layer224 are fed throughrollers710, thereby being capable of depositingconductive element210 betweenfirst layer222 andsecond layer224 in a variety of patterns.Rollers710 may be positioned and configured to apply appropriate heat or pressure to properly adherefirst layer222,conductive element210, andsecond layer224 together.

In some exemplary embodimentsconductive element210 may be a stretchable wire. In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be a non-stretchable wire or conductive yarn, such as, for example, a non-stretchable conductive micro wire or conductive textile yarn, and may be twisted or wrapped around spandex or other stretchable yarn, in order to mimic elasticity.

In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be a wire (e.g., a stretchable wire) as described above, coated with an insulating material (e.g., a stretchable insulating material). In such an embodiment, the insulating material can act asharness200. For example, the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 38 and 39 depictsconductive element210 as a stretchable wire coated with a stretchable insulating material (harness200), where the stretchable insulating material is anchored totextile layer100 at anchor points110. Such a configuration routesconductive elements210 fromfirst termination point212, atdevice retention element300 located at the back ofsensor garment10, tosecond termination point214, atsensor400 located at the chest area ofsensor garment10.Conductive element210, coated in the stretchable insulative material, is guided to these points by being anchored totextile layer100 at anchor points110. In some exemplary embodiments, such as that depicted inFIG. 40, anchor points can be eliminated. In such an embodiment,conductive elements210 may not require any particular routing, or may maintain acceptable routing by, for example, being interposed betweentextile layer100 and a wearer ofsensor garment10.

In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be a wire sewn into the seams ofsensor garment10. In some exemplary embodimentsconductive element210 may be a wire coupled totextile layer10 at discrete points (e.g., via stitching, or adhesive), and may be otherwise free from direct connection to sensor garment. In such embodiments,harness200 may be absent, or may simply include an insulative jacket coveringconductive elements210.

In some exemplary embodiments,harness200 defineschannels250 coupled to or integrated withintextile layer100, through whichconductive element210 may extend, as depicted in, for example,FIG. 44, which depictssensor garment10 worn inside-out, for ease of description.Channels250 may be, for example, bonded to, glued to, sewn within, connected at points to, stitched at discrete points to, ultrasonic welded to, or connected via zigzag stitch totextile layer100.Channels250 may be formed of fabric or other textile material, for example.

In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 includes multiple termination points, corresponding with termination points ofharness200, for connection with other elements. As shown in, for example,FIGS. 3 and 4,conductive element210 may includefirst termination point212, configured to connect to monitordevice500,second termination point214 configured to connect to asensor400, andthird termination point216 configured to connect to anothersensor400. In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be configured to releasably couple with elements such asmonitor device500 orsensors400 at a termination point. Such a connection may be established via a releasable connection element, for example, a plug, clip, snap, or latch betweenconductive element210 and the element to which it is configured to releasably couple. In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be directly connected to a component of the releasable connection element. In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be indirectly connected to a component of the releasable connection element. For example,connection element210 may connect directly to a conductive fabric, as described below, which may include a component of the releasable connection element.

In some exemplary embodiments,conductive element210 may be configured to non-releasably couple with additional elements such asmonitor device500 orsensors400. In some exemplary embodiments such a connection may be established by adheringconductive element210 to the additional element betweenfirst layer222 andsecond layer224 via, for example, a heated or ultrasonic weld. In some exemplary embodiments such a connection may be established by a conductive gel (e.g., conductive epoxy, silicone with conductive particles (e.g., silver, carbon, or stainless steel)) applied betweenconductive element210 and the additional element. In some exemplary embodiments such a connection may be established by a conductive fabric.

In some exemplary embodiments, aconductive fabric connection410 betweenconductive element210 and asensor400 includesconductive adhesive412 and conductive fabric414 (seeFIG. 16). In such a connection,conductive fabric414 acts as a bridge betweenconductive element210 andsensor400.Conductive fabric414 connects toconductive element210 via, for example, stitching, adhesive film, conductive epoxy, orconductive adhesive412, and tosensor400 via, for example, adhesive, stitching, or conductive epoxy.Conductive fabric414 may be, for example, a metal woven mesh, a stretchable conductive fiber, a rigid conductive mesh, a conductive foil, or a conductive polymer.Conductive fabric414 can be any suitable size and shape, including, for example, sized and/or shaped to correspond to the head of a snap used to establish connection to monitordevice500, or sized and/or shaped to correspond to the amount of conductive adhesive412 used to establish connection toconductive element210. In some exemplary embodiments, whereconductive elements210 are conductive yarn, the conductive yarn can be used as sewing thread to connect toconductive fabric414.

The present invention has been described above by way of exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalences.

Claims (9)

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically conductive element for a garment, the electrically conductive element comprising:

a first termination point configured to connect to a monitor device;

a second termination point configured to connect to a sensor of the garment; and

a wire or yarn extending from the first termination point to the second termination point and comprising a first portion adjacent the first termination point, a second portion adjacent the second termination point, and an intermediate portion between the first portion and the second portion,

wherein the wire or yarn is arranged in a pattern, and wherein the pattern has a greater frequency and a lesser magnitude at the first and second portions than at the intermediate portion.

2. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a zigzag pattern, a loop pattern, or a sinusoidal pattern.

3. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 1, wherein the wire or yarn comprises multi-strand, individually insulated micro-wire.

4. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 1, wherein the wire or yarn comprises conductive silver yarn.

5. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 1, wherein the wire or yarn comprises an elastic core encircled with conductive material.

6. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 1, further comprising a third termination point configured to connect to a second sensor of the garment,

wherein the wire or yarn extends from the first termination point to the third termination point.

7. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 6, wherein the wire or yarn comprises two wires or yarns.

8. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 7, wherein portions of the two wires or yarns are arranged parallel to each other.

9. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 7, wherein portions of the two wires or yarns are twisted around each other.

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